"The Scottish-English Borderlands"
Jedburgh by 6mirror

It could be said that my dad's family came from here. Can't quite prove it but my last name is that of the family name associated with this magnificent castle since c.1470, rebuilt in 1598 as it is now and beautifully restored inside and out. (I learned that the Lowland "clans" were called "families", only the Highlands had clans.) And I could be descended from Sir Thomas Kerr, Royal Protector of Mary, Queen of Scots...

In any case, my mother, niece, family friend, and I were treated like royalty on a totally private tour (off-season!!!) of the castle and museum given by the jovial Warden of the Castle (live-in groundskeeper), as arranged by our fabulous tour guide who went above and beyond customizing tours!

Hard to imagine that this lovely pastural setting with gently rolling hills all throughout the region was once the site of innumerable and fierce battles between Scottish and English border families or between Catholic and Protestant factions even within families such as the Kerrs.

A wee country road we took meandered over such idyllic scenes as this, to other nearby picturesque medieval sights such as Jedburgh and Melrose Abbey ruins.

This famous literary figure built his castle-like home on farmland he bought in the early 1800s along the south bank of the River Tweed. This stunning villa and estate has been/is being restored and is open to the public for tours.

The Scotts were another border family, along with the Douglases, Armstrongs, Elliotts, and several others, from what is called the Middle March region. Sometimes they allied themselves against the English border families, sometimes they fought and raided each other. Fascinating history!